5 companies create nearly half of plastic trash in Canada: Audit

On Tuesday, Oct. 9, Greenpeace announced that the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo and Nestlé are the world’s top polluters according their latest audit.

The organization stated in a press release that these companies were most frequently identified in the international report through the 239 cleanup audits held on World Clean Up Day. The Break Free From Plastic movement was held on World Clean Up Day in 42 countries.

While it was the fourth worst polluter in the Canadian audit, the Coca Cola company was the top global polluter in the international audit. In fact, Coke-branded plastic pollution found in 40 of the 42 participating countries.

The audit also found that Cigarette butts, which contain plastic, remain a major contributor to plastic pollution. In fact, 7228 cigarette butts were found in the Kitsilano Beach audit alone.

Greenpeace has been calling on plastic producing corporations and distributors to commit to phase out single-use plastics. Alternatively, they urge them to invest in new delivery models based on reuse and refill systems.

Greenpeace is also urging the Canadian government to hold corporations accountable for the environmental and social impacts of their products.